Cut-off switch for elevator annunciators



CUT-OFF SWITCH FOR ELEVATOR mmc'n'rons Filed June 24, 1924 INVENTOR.

' /7aw4;a2dt bar It 1 BY 2 ATTOR- E Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT 4mm FRANZ A. BOEDTCHEB, OF BERGENIIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO OTIS ELEVATOB COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY cur-on swrrcn roa annva'roa monorarona Application fled June 24, 1024. Serial No. 722,053.

This invention relates to annunciators of the character employed in elevator "signalling systems and usually positioned in elevator cars to notify the car operator of the floor from which signals are sent and of the-direction in which the prospective assenger wishes to proceed from such oor. Annunciators of this general character are sometimes positioned at other parts of the building than in the elevator cars, and are included in the signalling circuits. The invention is therefore to be understood as not limited to usage in an elevator car although for the purpose of illustration, it will be described in this connection.

In elevator car annunciators, it is common to provide a plurality of signal lam s,

drop annunciator elements or other suita 1e signalling devices in a car, in appropriate numbers to correspond with the number of floors in the building and for both up and down directions. All of these signalling devices of any particular annunciator are usually fed from a common feed main which leads to all of said devices in multiple and from each of said several annunciator signalling devices tap lines lead to the'up and down push buttons of the respective floors either directly or through suitable annuciator mechanism or other switches.

When the elevator is in operation, the circuits including the tap lines and the feed or return main should be responsive to the operations of the respective passenger push buttons, but when the elevator is not in use, or for some reason it is desirable to operate the elevator without receiving signals, it is desirable to provide some eflicient switching mechanism to render the annunciator of that car unresponsive to the push buttons. Ordinary switches in the main feed or return have usually been employed for this purpose, but, in practice, they are not found 7 to be entirely satisfactory.

With the fore oing considerations in mind, the object 0% the present invention is to provide an annunciator of the character described which will fulfill all requirements of practical use in a thorou hly, efiicient and economical manner and t 1s accomlished in accordance with this invention y providing a single switch element which when in one position will connect all of the signal devices of the annunciator to the feed or return main, but which, when in another position will individually disconnect all of said devices, not only from the main, but from each other, so that there can be no leakage or loss of current and with the result that each signalling device will be individually rendered electrically dead.

The structure is simple, economical to manufacture and highly efiicient in use.' It does not materially increase the cost of the installation of the signalling s stem and the same is adequately safeguar ed against leakage.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when readcin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

7 Figure 1 is a face view of an annunciator embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fi 116 1; and, F igure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of rel.

ferring to the drawin 1 designates a block of insulation which or the purpose of may be of any appropriate size, shapevor material and these details are in practice determined by the number of floorswhich the annunciator is intended to serve, and the position in which it is to be placed in the car.

Extending along the lon 'tudinal medial line of the panel is a, mova le switch member 2 shown in the form of a relatively thin metal strip provided on its opposite ends with trunnions 3, which are journalled for rotation in suitable bearin 4 afiixed to the panel 1. Beyond one of t e tnmnions 3, a

suitable finger piece or handle 5 is afiixed to the movable switch member 2 and through the manipulation of this finger piece said member can be rotated on its longitudinal axis.

Arranged on each side of the switch member 2 are a succession of mountings, each of which is adapted to support one signalling device, such as an electric lamp, a drop annunciator unit or any other suitable signalling element. These mountings will naturally partake of a form appropriate to the particular type of signalling element employed, but for the purpose of illustration, I have shown them as constructed to support lamps. In this showing, each mounting comprises a metallic block 6 supported above the face of the panel by posts 7 and rigidly held in position by screws 8. Each 0 the blocks 6 is provided with a hole or openin 9 which is threaded to receive the threade base of a lamp which may be screwed into this hole to bring the conventional contact normally found on the ends of lamps into engagement with a metallic plate'or contact 10. One contact 10 is associated with each block 6 and is so mounted with respect thereto that one end of each of said contacts 10 will extend beneath the corresponding block 6. The contacts 10 are firmly mounted on the panel 1 by means of screws 11 and have associated therewith binding screws 12, by means of which the tap lines 13 may be electrically connected with the respective contacts.

Fixed on each block 6 by means of certain of the screws 8 and an additional screw 14 are contact springs 15, which extend toward and overlie the movable switch element 2. These springs normally tend to partake of a neutral position within a common plane, as shown in full lines in Figure 2, and the switch element 2 is of such cross section that when moved into the full position of Figure 2, it will be free from engagement with these contacts 15, but may be brought into engagement with the contacts by rotation on its longitudinal axis into the dotted line position of Figure 2. When thus rotated, it will engage with the spring contacts 15 and slightly flex them, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, so as to insure a firm electrical contact between the bar 2 and each of said spring contacts.

In practice, the current feed or return main is electrically connected to the bar 2. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such for exam le as leading the wire 16 to either of the arings 4 or to an additional spring contact similar to the contacts 15. In the last mentioned instance, the bar 2 would only be electrically connected with the main when in the dotted line position of Figure 2, while in the former instance, the main would be constantly electrically connected with the movable switch member. However, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown the main 16 as connected to a leaf spring 17, so tensioned that it will at all times bear against and engage with the member 2 and in this illustrative construction, this spring is utilized as a lock to maintain the movable switch member from inadvertent rotation from its idle position. This is clearly shown in Figure 3.

The handle 5 preferably bears the legends off and on, so that the operator may readily see the position occupied by the movable switch member 2 even though the panel is contained, as it usually is, within a suitable casing.

It will be noted from the drawings that a stop 18 is provided against which the movable switch member 2 may be brought to a seat when turning it into the off position and when in this position a spring 17 will hold it to its seat and maintain the parts against inadvertent shifting.

In the drawings, I have illustrated the switch element as of elongated rectangular cross section. It will be manifest, however, that different cross sections may be employed to serve the same purpose. For this reason, the present invention is to be understood as broadl novel as is commensurate with the appen ed claims and not as limited to the specific details shown in the drawings.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An annunciator for elevator signalling systems embodying a plurality of spring contacts, a like number of signalling devices, one of which is associated with each contact, a current switching bar, means for mounting said bar for rotation on its longitudinal axis in a position for simultaneous electrical engagement with or disenga ement from all of said contacts, a current eed or return wire leading to the current switching bar, a current tap leading from each signalling device, whereby current may be fed from the main or return through the several contacts to the respective signalling devices when the current switching bar is in electrical engagement with said contacts, the circuit between the current switchin bar and the several signals being com etely broken when the current switching bar is in electrical disengagement from the contacts.

2. An annunciator for elevator signalling systems embodying a plurality of contacts, signalling devices associated with said contacts, a current tap connected to each signalling device, a current switching bar mounted to be rotated on its longitudinal axis from electrical en agement with said contacts to electrical 'sengagement from said contacts, and an electrical feed and return main leading to the current switchi bar, whereby current may be fed from the main or return through the si alling devices when the current switc ing bar is in electrical engagement with said contacts, there being no electrical connection within the annunciator between the main and the signalling devices when the rotatable switch m bar is out of electrical engagement with said contacts.

8. An annunciator for elevator si allin systems embodying a plurality of e ectrica slgnalling devices havin se arate electrical terminals to energize t e evice and ive a signal, a separate current tap connects to one electrical terminal of each device, a spring contact connected to the other electrical terminal of each device, a rotary current switching bar having an electrical contact surface extending about a portion of its periphery, means for ivotall mounting said bar for rotation on its longitudinal axis to adapt said electrical contact surface for simultaneous electrical engagement with or disengagement from al of said spring contacts, and a feed or return main includin a spring contact positioned to engage wit the current switching bar when the bar is in a position to engage all of the other contacts whereby current may be fed from said mam through the current switchin bar to the signalling devices individualFy when a circuit is completed be- 5 tween the main and any one of the taps exteriorly of the annunciator.

4. A signal receiving annunciator for elevator signalling systems embodyi a suitable base panel, a current switching ar having an electrical contact surface extending about a portion of its periphery, means for mounting said bar on the base frame for rotary movement on its longitudinal axis, a plurality of visual signals mounted on the base panel, a spring contact associated with one terminal of each si al and extending to overlap the bar an all of which contacts are positioned to be simultaneously engaged or disengaged with the contact surface of said bar by rotation of the latter, an additional spring contact enga 'ng with the' bar to feed current thereto, an an electrical connection leadi from the other terminal of each of sai signals.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing cificatiom RANZ BOEDTCHER. 

